I’m here in Kansas City, Kansas, eating at Noodles & Company for the hundredth time. Noodles & Company is a mix between fast food and Italian, located by the mall in Kansas City.  There’s multiple other Noodles & Companies around the United States, but this is the one that I attend most of the time.

Once I stepped into the restaurant, I saw the cash register with the employees waiting to take my order.  The jumbo menu is propped up above the employees heads, with a picture of the pasta or soup.  Unlike some other restaurants the pictures are accurate of what the food will look like.  The soda fountain has many Coca-Cola options and more.  Right next to the soda fountain they had forks, napkins, to-go boxes, and chopsticks.  One con of having that type of soda drinking fountain is that when someone is in front of you getting their drink the faucet will still drip after they’re done, and the drippy faucet will make your hands sticky when you go to get your ice. But any other restaurant with that type of soda machine will do the same.  After I ordered, I got my drink, and I was able to choose where I sat. I could’ve chosen between a booth or table (I chose a booth). There’s also a patio outside if it’s full or too cold inside (it’s usually really cold).  All of the tables were mostly clean, as well as the floor.  It’s not crowded, but still has enough seating for a lot of people.  The bathrooms are located at the back of the restaurant. Noodles & Company restrooms’ are pristine and do not feel grubby.  The only cost (bad thing) of the bathrooms is that it’s a single stall bathroom; so if you really need to go, and someone’s in there, you have to wait for them to get done.

Noodles & Company has many different pastas available that kids and adults will like! The dishes come in two sizes, a small and regular bowl.  Whenever I go there I get the buttered noodles with parmesan crusted chicken.  It has long twisted noodles with parmesan cheese and this seasoning that is a little salty and has Italian seasoning.  The chicken has a garlicky taste on the thin breading. I would rate this dish as a five but sometimes a four point five out of five.  My brother gets the penne rosa with parmesan crusted chicken. The penne rosa has a red creamy sauce with manicotti noodles(long circular noodle with ridges) and vegetables (has an option for no vegetables).  The sauce is kind of spicy, but not too bad.  My mom and dad switch it up every time, so I don’t really know what they get.  Noodles and Company has some traditional dishes such as spaghetti, buttered noodles and Wisconsin mac n’ cheese (regular macaroni). If you want to experiment with something unique here are some options: spicy Korean beef noodles, Japanese pan noodles and the green curry with shrimp. There are many more options but those are some that stand out to me.  If you have a little kid, and they can’t eat all of the small, there’s a kid’s menu, too.  On the kid’s menu, there is macaroni, spaghetti, buttered noodles and grilled chicken; each comes with broccoli.  If you want a side to go with your meal or appetizer, Noodles and Company has Korean BBQ meatballs with gochujang sauce, potstickers (chicken dumplings) and cheesy garlic bread. Overall I would rate their food as a four point five out of five.     

The service at Noodles & Company is superior most of the time.  If the restaurant is busy the wait can be a little longer than your typical fast food restaurant.  Sometimes there are a few occasions where the waiters and waitresses walk around the restaurant and get your bowls and plates out of the way when you’re finished.  But most of the time waiters and waitresses are back at the cash registers or cooking.  If you come in later in the night the employees might be vacuuming, and some people dislike that.  Since Noodles & Company’s waiters and waitresses don’t work outside of the kitchen or taking orders sometimes the tables will have some crumbs.  The employees keep the bathrooms stainless and in tip-top shape.  Other than the vacuuming during hours , and sometimes the long wait, I would say the service is exceptional, rating it at a four out of five.     

Noodles & Company is my favorite restaurant when we head up to Kansas City or Topeka.  What customers hanker for in a pleasing restaurant is good service, not crowded and of course the food.  For the most part, Noodles & Company covers all of these aspects in a good quality business.  Overall I would give Noodles & Company a four point five out of five rating.